Posted 2016/8/26
Built in 1880s, the Retreat and Reflection Garden (退思园) is comprised of the housing complex, a big courtyard and a garden which are aligned on a west-east axis. The name is from an ancient Chinese saying that "loyal to the royal court with honest heart, self reflection is needed after retirement". It is now a UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage.
The housing complex has inner and outer parts. The outer house embraces a succession of three halls, while the inner house to the east is made up of two two-storied buildings in the shape of "U", reached by two stairways on both sides. The spacious court is the transitional area between the housing complex and the garden. There is a boat-like pavilion near the entrance for guest reception, a form of architecture typical in the Venetian town of Tongli, south of Suzhou.
The garden to the east is the essence here. Small and exquisite houses, built close to the pond, are in admirable proportion to water and landscape. The Thatched Cottage of Retreat and Reflection, a main structure of the garden, was constructed on the Moon Viewing Terrace, from which one is able to feast his eyes on surrounding scenes. Carefully arranged and well-spaced buildings around the pond include the Lotus Blooms Pavilion, the Stone Boat, the Zizania Rain Brings Coolness Pavilion, and the Celestial Bridge which is, in fact, a rare double-gallery in lower reaches of Yangtze River. To the southwest of the garden is the Osmanthus Fragrance Hall in a tranquil and enclosed mini-garden within the garden. At the northwest corner is Pavilion of Gathering Beauty that overlooks the entire garden. It connected with the Lasting Spring and Moon Viewing Tower in the middle part, borrows scenes from the garden and vice versa, an excellent example of garden scenes in lower reaches of Yangtze River.
The Retreat and Reflection Garden has combined the great architectural ingredients in classical gardens from the Qing Dynasty, so delicate and elegant. Towers and pavilions are in a harmonious layout that provides an interesting view. It can be regarded as eternal classic in Suzhou's garden architecture.
